Medical cart, medication module, height adjustment mechanism, and method of medication transport

ABSTRACT

A medical cart is described and includes a work platform having a work surface and at least one compartment, a base, and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the work platform relative to the base. A medication module is described and includes a plurality of compartments. The medical cart can be joined with a medication module. In addition, a plurality of medication modules can joined to form a train. The medical cart and medication module can be used collectively and individually in a variety of methods for transferring medicine.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/783,030 (filed Feb. 23, 2004), now abandoned and also claims priorityto U.S. Provisional Application Nos. 60/448,920 (filed Feb. 24, 2003),60/484,658 (filed Jul. 7, 2003), and 60/518,649 (filed Nov. 12, 2003).This application also claims priority to U.S. Design patent applicationSer. Nos. 29/196,712, 29/196,713, 29/196,714 (all filed Jan. 2, 2004)and to U.S. Design patent application Nos. 29/199,984 and 29/199,985(both filed Feb. 23, 2004).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Institute of Medicine estimates that medical error is responsiblefor roughly 98,000 deaths annually, making it the seventh leading causeof death in the U.S. Accordingly, reducing the likelihood of error is animportant issue not only for hospitals and doctors, but for society as awhole.

To alleviate some of these concerns, some hospitals provide nurses withmedical carts on which a networked laptop computer facilitates the useof Electronic Medical Administration Records (“EMAR”). EMAR is anelectronic record of medications and services administered by ahealthcare professional through patient and medication identificationvia bar coding. When admitted into a hospital, the patient receives abar coded wrist band for identification purposes. Also, healthcareprofessionals within the pharmacy bar code all the medications to beadministered to the patients. Documentation of medications given at thepoint-of-care has reduced the number of errors by ensuring that theright patient is receiving the proper medication at the correct time.The EMAR software alerts the nurse if there is a discrepancy anytimeduring the medication administration process.

Unfortunately, however, these medical carts have proven unsatisfactoryfor a number of reasons. For example, the carts are not ergonomicallydesigned. The average age of a nurse is 47 and roughly 83% of nursesreport suffering chronic back pain. In addition, the existing EMAR cartssuffer from a relative lack of work surface, lack of an area to disposeof refuse, bad placement of medication drawers, lack of storage space,and relative inability to be usefully raised and lowered to enable thenurse to work when either standing or sitting.

In many hospital environments, a nurse must walk to a central location(e.g., a pyxis machine) at which medication is handled to obtainmedication for a particular patient. Often, to avoid giving the wrongmedication to a patient, the nurse only carries one patient's medicationat a time. This control, however, does not preclude the potential forthe medication to be given to the wrong patient such as, for example, ifthe nurse is sidetracked and asks another nurse to administer themedication.

In addition to the above-mentioned concerns, when one takes into accountthe number of patients which a nurse must handle, the result is that thenurse must spend a considerable amount of time walking between thecentral location and each patient's bedside. This problem is exacerbatedin some situations in which the central location is located asignificant distance from one or more of the patients for which thenurse is responsible. Moreover, the cost associated with paying nursesto continuously travel to and from various medication locations may berelatively insignificant at the level of a particular nurse but is quitesignificant to the medical industry as a whole.

What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus and a methodology by whichmedical error may be reduced and by which the amount of time a nursespends obtaining and researching medication may be reduced, withoutcompromising safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention relates to a cart including a workplatform having a work surface and at least one compartment, a base, anda height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the workplatform relative to the base. The compartment can be a drawer. The workplatform can accommodate drawers of different sizes. Preferably thecompartment is configured to be unlocked via a keyless entry system.

The work platform can include a laptop platform that can be moved in atleast one of a forward and a rearward direction. The work platform alsocan include a work surface that can be moved in at least one of aleftward and rightward direction. The work platform also can include abarcode scanner holder.

The cart can include a plurality of rolling members connected to thebase. The work platform can include sidewalls and the rolling memberscan be disposed on the base outside of the sidewalls.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a cart systemcomprising a first cart and a second cart. The first cart can include atleast one compartment and a base having rolling members to permitmovement of the first cart. The second cart can include a plurality ofcompartments and a base having rolling members to permit movement of thesecond cart. The first and second cart can include linking structurethat permits the first and second carts to be connected together formovement.

The first cart can include a work platform having a work surface andthat houses the at least one compartment. The first cart can include aplurality of compartments.

Preferably the base of the first cart is configured to nest with thebase of the second cart. The second cart can include a housing forsupporting the plurality of compartments and the rolling members can bedisposed on the base outside of the sidewalls.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method ofmedication transport. The method can include the steps of loading, at afirst location, medication into first and second carts, connecting thefirst and second carts to form a cart train, moving the cart train to asecond location when loaded with medication, separating the first andsecond carts after moving the cart train to the second location, movingthe first cart from the second location to a third location, removingmedication from the at least one cart at the third location, andreturning the first and second carts to the first location.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method ofmedication transport comprising the steps of loading, at a firstlocation, medication into a compartment(s) in a medication module(s),moving the medication module to a second location, transferringmedication from the medication module to a medical cart, andadministering medicine from the medical cart to a patient.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method ofmedication transport comprising the steps of loading, at a firstlocation, medication into a compartment(s) in a medication module(s),moving the medication module to a second location, exchanging thecompartments of the medication module(s) with the compartments of amedical cart(s) at the second location, returning the medicationmodule(s) having the compartments of the medical cart(s) therein to thefirst location for refilling while the medical cart(s) having thecompartments of the medication module(s) therein are being taken topatients.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following description,appended claims, and accompanying exemplary embodiments shown in thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a medical cartaccording to the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of a slidable laptop computersurface of the medical cart of FIG. 1, the laptop surface being moveableforward (FIG. 2A) and rearward (FIG. 2B);

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top and bottom exploded perspective views of threepanels of a sliding platform of the medical cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3C is an enlarged view of a connection mechanism of the slidingplatform of FIGS. 3A and 3B

FIGS. 4A and 4B are top plan views of the assembled sliding platform inwhich the platform has been pulled out to the right (FIG. 4A) and to theleft (FIG. 4B);

FIGS. 5A-5C are close-up views of a barcode scanner and barcode scannerholder of the medical cart of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6A-6C are perspective views of a clipboard of the medical cart ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a work platform of the medical cart ofFIG. 1 without compartments;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of different sized compartments configuredto be inserted into the medical cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9A is an exploded view of parts of a height adjustment mechanism ofthe medical cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view of the height adjustment mechanism of FIG.9A in assembled form;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are bottom and top perspective views of the heightadjustment mechanism of FIGS. 9A and 9B being connected to the medicalcart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of the medical cart of FIG. 1 havinga laptop computer thereon and showing a hatch being removed;

FIG. 12 is cross-sectional side view of the medical cart of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of the medical cart of FIG. 1 havingboth a hatch and a base cover removed;

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of the medical cart of FIG. 1 showinga retractable power cord;

FIG. 15 is an underside plan view of the medical cart of FIG. 1 showinga first locking mechanism;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a medical cartaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a medicationmodule according to the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a side plan view of the medication module of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is an underside plan view of the medication module of FIG. 17showing first and second locking mechanisms;

FIG. 20 is an underside perspective view of a plurality of medicationmodules of the type shown in FIG. 17 releaseably engaged to form atrain;

FIGS. 21A and 21B are front and back perspective views of a medical cartof the type shown in FIG. 16 releaseably engaged with a medicationmodule of the type shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 is a breakaway perspective view of the medication module of FIG.17 showing a portion of a keyless entry system;

FIG. 23 shows a cross-sectional top view of the medication module ofFIG. 17 showing a portion of a keyless entry system; and

FIG. 24 is a diagram of steps for an embodiment of a method ofmedication transport according to the present invention, which can beperformed using a plurality of medication modules of the type shown inFIG. 17 and a plurality of medical carts of the types shown in FIGS. 1and 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in thedrawings. An effort has been made to use the same or like referencenumbers throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

A first embodiment of a medical cart 500 is shown in FIGS. 1-15. Withrespect to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the medical cart 500 includes awork platform 340, a support mechanism 320 that supports and adjusts theheight of the work platform 340, and a base 310.

The work platform 340 can include a bi-directional laptop platform 370,a bi-directional work surface 350, an adjustable barcode scanner holder380, an adjustable clipboard 390, one or more lockable compartments 530,a plurality of top bins 342, removable side bins 520, cup holders 344,and/or a keypad 238. Because each of these items is provided on the workplatform 340, a user can ergonomically access each of these items as thework platform 340 is raised or lowered.

The laptop platform 370 can be configured to support, for example, alaptop computer 900 (shown in FIGS. 6A and 7). Conventional structurecan be provided on the laptop platform 370 to hold the laptop computerin place. The laptop platform 370 can have an arcuate front face 376 ata front portion. The arcuate front face 376 may be designed tocorrespond to the torso of a user for ergonomic reasons.

The laptop platform 370 can be locked in a central position (FIG. 1) oradjusted ergonomically to a forward (FIG. 2A) or rearward (FIG. 2B)position. As an example of a use of the present invention, when a userlowers the work platform 340 to a low position and moves the laptopplatform 370 to a forward position, the user can sit and the workplatform 340 functions as a desk. A transfer structure 800 allows thelaptop platform 370 to be moved between those positions. The transferstructure 800 can include stationary rails 372 mounted on body portions802 of the work platform 340 and rails runners 373 mounted on the laptopplatform 370, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Notches 374, which include sloped surfaces 375 and cavities 377, areformed along the rail runners 373. The notches 374 are configured toengage posts 371 formed along the stationary rails 372. When the laptopplatform 370 is moved by the transfer structure 800, the sloped surfaces375 of the notches 374 are configured to engage the posts 371. Bycontinuing to push (or pull) the laptop platform 370, the posts 371 willride up the sloped surfaces 375 and be deposited in cavities 377 in thenotches 374, thereby releasably immobilizing the laptop platform 370with respect to the work platform 340.

In one embodiment, one notch 374 may be provided on each of the railrunners 373 and corresponding posts 371 may be provided on thestationary rails 372. As a result, the laptop platform 370 can bereleaseably locked with respect to the work platform 340. For example,as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the posts 371 may be provided at rearportions of the stationary rails 372 and the notches 374 may besimilarly provided at rear portions of the rail runners 373. As aresult, the laptop platform 370 will be releaseably locked with respectto the work platform 340 when in a central position shown in FIG. 1.

In another embodiment, each of the stationary rails 372 may include atleast three posts 371, one provided at each end of the stationary rails372 and one provided in a central portion of the stationary rails 372.Correspondingly, each of the rail runners 373 may include three notches374, one provided at each end of the rails runners 373 and one providedin a central portion of the rail runners 373. As a result, the surface370 can be releasably immobilized with respect to the work platform 340in a forward position (FIG. 2A), a rearward position (FIG. 2B), and acentral position (FIG. 1). In the forward position (FIG. 2A), therearmost notches 374 may be engaged with the forwardmost posts 371.Similarly, in the rearward position (FIG. 2B), the forwardmost notches374 may be engaged with the rearmost posts 371. Finally, in the centralposition, all three posts 371 on each stationary rail 372 may be engagedwith the corresponding cavity 377 of the notches 374 of the rail runners373.

In another embodiment, the contact between the stationary rails 372 andthe rail runners 373 can be frictionally enhanced such that the laptopplatform 370 does not readily slide with respect to the work platform340. Rather, force (i.e., either pushing or pulling on the laptopplatform 370) will be required to overcome the frictional engagementbetween the stationary rails 372 and the rail runners 373. As a result,the laptop platform 370 can be relatively fixed with respect to the workplatform 340 at any location between a forwardmost position (FIG. 2A)and a rearmost position (FIG. 2B). In addition, one or more notches374/posts 371 may be combined with the frictional engagement between thestationary rails 372 and the rail runners 373.

When the laptop platform 370 is pushed forward or rearward, it canexpose a secondary work area 379 provided below the laptop platform 370.The secondary work area 379 can be particularly sturdy. For example, itcan be sturdy enough to enable a user to crush pills on the secondarywork area 379. In addition, the secondary work area 379 may be providedwith a rim 378. The rim 378 may reduce the likelihood of medicationrolling off the medical cart 500 such as, for example, when a nursetries to crush pills on the secondary work area 379.

The bi-directional work surface 350 is shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A,and 4B. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the bi-directional work surface 350is positioned below the laptop platform 370. The bi-directional worksurface 350 is designed to move through a slot 343 in the side 341 ofthe work platform 340 in leftward and rightward directions to provideadditional work space.

The work surface 350 can have channels 355, 357 on its underside thatengage ribs 358, 359 formed on a plate 361 provided on a body 329 of thework platform 340. The channels 355, 357 are sized to receive the ribs358, 359 of the plate 361. To prevent the bi-directional work surface350 from sliding off the plate 361, the channels 355, 357 are closed atone end. As a result, when the second bi-directional work surface 350slides to the right (as shown in FIG. 4A), the channels 355 will slidealong the ribs 358, 359. At one point, the channels 355 will slide pastthe ribs 359 on the left side of the plate 361 and will continue toslide along ribs 358 on the right side of the plate 361. The secondbi-directional work surface 350 will stop sliding, however, when theclosed ends 363 of the channels 355 abut the inner ends of ribs 358.

Similarly, when the second bi-directional work surface 350 slides to theleft (as shown in FIG. 4B), the channels 357 will slide along the ribs358, 359. At one point, the channels 357 will slide past the ribs 358 onthe right side of the plate 361 and will continue to slide along ribs359 on the left side of the plate 361. The second bi-directional worksurface 350 will stop sliding, however, when the closed ends 365 of thechannels 357 abut the inner ends of the ribs 359.

When the bi-directional work surface 350 slides to the right or to theleft, it slides in an arcuate path as a result of the channels 355, 357and ribs 358, 369 (and the work surface 350) being arcuate in shape. Asa result, the second bi-directional work surface 350 is positionedcloser to a user standing or sitting in front of the medical cart 500when it is in an extended position.

A releaseable locking mechanism 1000 (shown best in FIG. 3C) can beprovided to hold the work surface 350 in a center position and toprevent it from sliding unintentionally. For example, as shown in FIGS.3B and 3C, the second bi-directional work surface 350 may be providedwith a projection 354 having sloped surfaces 347 and a nesting region346. Correspondingly, the plate 361 may be provided with a moveable pin356 which may be, for example, a ball spring plunger that isspring-biased in upward direction (i.e., toward the work surface 350).As a result, when the bi-directional work surface 350 is pushed into thework platform 340 (from either the left or the right), the moveable pin356 will initially be pushed downward relative to the plate 361 by thesloped surface 347 of the projection 354. Subsequently, the pin 356 willextend upwards into the nesting region 346 of the projection 354 andbecome frictionally engaged therein, thereby releasably locking the worksurface 350 with respect to the work platform 340. To move the worksurface 350 out of the locked position, a force is applied to one of theexposed ends of the second bi-directional work surface 350 (to push themoveable pin 356 out of the nesting region 346 of the curved projection354), thereby enabling the bi-directional work surface 350 to slidefreely along the ribs 358, 359.

Of course, the type of locking mechanism may be changed. Further,additional movable pins 356 may be provided in the plate 361 so as toenable the second bi-directional work surface 350 to be releasablylocked in a corresponding number of positions.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the adjustable barcode scanner holder 380includes a flexible neck 382, a base 386, and a holder portion 384. As aresult of the neck 382 being flexible, the position of the holderportion 384 can be adjusted. For example, the vertical distance betweenthe holder portion 384 and the laptop platform 370 can be adjusted.Specifically, the orientation of the holder portion 384 can be adjustedbetween, for example, a holding position in which a barcode scanner 385is maintained in an upright holding position (FIG. 5B) and a hands-freescanning position in which the holder portion 384 is adapted to hold aninverted (i.e., facing downward) barcode scanner 385. By holding thescanner 385 in the inverted position, the holder portion 384 enables auser to pass documents between the scanner 385 and the laptop platform370 (FIG. 5C), without having to manually hold the scanner 385 (i.e.,the scanner 385 may be operated in a hands-free manner). Moreover, theflexibility of the neck 382 enables the holder portion 384 to beadjusted to accommodate various barcode scanner sizes. In addition, theneck 382 is designed to rotate at the base 386 thereof so that a usercan turn the barcode scanner holder 380 away from the laptop platform370, if desired.

The barcode scanner 385 may be an integral part of the medical cart 500or may be detachable therefrom. If the barcode scanner 385 is anintegral component of the medical cart 500, its power cord 387 may beinserted into a power cord passage 327 and connected to an electricalreceptacle 904, as later explained in detail with respect to FIGS.11-13. By way of contrast, the barcode scanner 385 may receive the powernecessary to operate it from a laptop computer 900 when it is pluggedinto a USB port of the laptop computer 900.

As shown in FIGS. 6A-6C, the adjustable clipboard 390 is also designedto hold items in a hands-free manner. The clipboard 390 includes a clip392 for holding items, such as paper. The clipboard 390 also includesconventional rails 394 attached to an L-shaped metal bracket 393 whichconnects the clipboard 390 to the laptop platform 370, as shown best inFIG. 6C. The clipboard 390 is designed to slide along the rails 394 tothe left of the medical cart 500. As a result, if a user is working on alaptop computer provided on the laptop platform 370, the clipboard 390can be moved from a central position (FIG. 6B) to left of the laptopcomputer to allow the user to view the documents clipped to the clip392, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6C. Of course, in other embodiments, theclipboard 390 could be designed to move to the right.

The plurality of compartments 530 face the user and move up and downwith the work platform 340 (i.e., they remain in the same positionrelative to the laptop platform 370), which are ergonomically desirablefeatures. The compartments 530 may be provided with labeling portions570, which allow labels to be displayed on the compartments 530. Theplurality of compartments 530 enable a user (e.g., a nurse) toseparately maintain medication for particular patients or for aparticular room. For example, if a nurse is responsible for eightpatients in a hospital ward, the medical cart 500 may be provided with acorresponding number of compartments 530 and the medication for eachpatient may be kept in a separate drawer assigned to that patient. As aresult, the nurse could load the medication for all eight patients intoeight separate drawers at one time (e.g., at the start of a medicationpass) and at one location (e.g., at a pyxis machine), thereby reducingthe need to travel to obtain the medication during the nurse's shift.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the compartments 530 have projections 531which are configured to slide in grooves 533 formed on the interiorwalls of the medical cart 500. Although the compartments 530 in FIG. 1are shown as having a generally uniform height, this is not required. Insome embodiments the compartments 530 may have different heights.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, four short compartments 530A-D can beremoved, thereby exposing dividers 535 (which may be, for example, sheetmetal). By removing the dividers 535 (e.g., by sliding them out of themedical cart 500), as shown in the left side of the medical cart 500 inFIG. 7, a tall space 537 may be created. As a result, a tall compartment530E, the height of which is substantially equal to height of the fourshort compartments 530A-D when installed in the medical cart 500, may beinserted into medication module 500 to substantially fill the space 537.Moreover, the tall compartment 530E will readily slide into the medicalcart 500 by means of the projections 531 which are configured to slideinto the grooves 533 previously occupied by the projections 531 of theupper short compartment 530A. Thus, different size compartments 530 canbe accommodated based on the desired application.

The compartments 530 may be lockable by means of a keyless entry system(the details of which are later described with respect to FIGS. 22 and23). Thus, the potential for unauthorized access to the compartments 530while the nurse is caring for a particular patient is small.

The top bins 243 are provided to house items such as paperclips,pencils, etc. Similarly, the cup holders 344 are provided to secure anumber of medicine cups used to pass out medications.

The removable side bins 520 can be provided to hold items, such as trashor medical equipment. The side bins 520 can be removably connected tothe sides of the body 329 of the work platform 340 by conventionalmeans, such as a hole and pin arrangement.

The work platform 340 may be raised and lowered by means of the supportmechanism 320. This provides a sitting or standing user with easy accessto the work surface 350 and its associated components (e.g., laptopplatform 370, work surface 350, compartments 530, etc.). The supportmechanism 320 allows the user to adjust the position of the workplatform 340 to a comfortable position, regardless of whether the useris sitting or standing. The support mechanism 320 comprises twotelescoping portions 322, 324 (shown more clearly in the embodimentshown in FIG. 16) and height adjustment mechanism 400 (shown in FIGS. 9Aand 9B). The height adjustment mechanism 400 enables a standing user ora sitting user to ergonomically raise and lower the work platform 340.

The height adjustment mechanism 400 includes an outer casing 410, atelescoping inner casing 420, and a driver 430. Preferably, two or moredrawer slides 422 are provided between the inner casing 420 and theouter casing 410. Although two drawer slides 422 may be used (onopposite sides of the inner casing 420), it is preferable to use atleast three drawer slides 422, to prevent (or at least greatly inhibit)a binding action from being applied to the height adjustment mechanism400 by means of a cantilevered force being applied thereto.

The drawer slides 422 may be, for example, conventional drawer railsformed of stationary drawer rails 423 and corresponding rail runners425. If the drawer slides 422 are conventional drawer rails, one side ofthe drawer slides 422 (e.g., the rail runners 425) may be fixed to outersides of the inner casing 420 and the corresponding side of the drawerslides 422 (e.g., the stationary drawer rails 423) may be fixed to innersides the outer casing 420. Further, the stationary drawer rails 423 maybe provided with ball bearings to facilitate movement of the rail runner425. An upper end of one side of the inner casing 420 is provided withan engagement mechanism 426. As shown, the engagement mechanism may bein the form of a window in the side of the casing 420.

The driver 430 includes a gas driven piston 432 which, in turn, includesa body portion 436 and a telescoping strut 434. The driver 430 iscontrolled by an actuator 440 to which is connected by a connector 442.

As shown in FIG. 10A, a base 411 of the outer casing 410 is affixed tothe base 310 of the medical cart 500 by a plurality of bolts through thebase 411. A bolt 413 passes through a hole 437 in a connection portion439 of the body portion 436 of the piston 432, thereby immobilizing boththe outer casing 410 and the piston 432. In addition, as shown in FIG.10B, the inner casing 420 and the telescoping strut 434 are affixed towork platform 340 by an upper bolt 415 which passes through the innercasing 420 and through a hole 459 in a connection portion 460 of thetelescoping strut 434. As a result, when the work platform 340 is raisedor lowered, the strut 434 and the inner casing 420 are correspondinglyraised or lowered.

As shown in FIG. 10B, the actuator 440 may be provided in a frontportion of the medical cart 500. Moreover, a button 444 of the actuator440 may be provided in the handle 360 of the medical cart 500, as shownin FIG. 1. To lower the work platform 340, the button 444 is pushed as auser pushes down on work platform 340 thereby causing the gas drivenpiston 432 to expel air. As a result, the telescoping strut 434 iswithdrawn vertically into the body portion 436 of the piston 432. As thetelescoping strut 434 moves downward into the body portion 436, the workplatform 340 which is affixed to the telescoping strut 434 also movesdownward. In turn, the work platform 340 forces the connection portion460 and the inner casing 420 to move downward. If the button 444 isreleased while the work platform 340 is being lowered, the work platform340 will be releaseably locked at the height at which the button 444 isreleased. As a result, the work platform 340 can be releaseably lockedat any position between a lowest position (at which the telescopingstrut 434 is maximally provided in the body portion 436 of the piston432) and a highest position (at which the inner casing 420 is drivenupward to a maximum distance by the telescoping strut 434 of the piston432).

By way of contrast, to raise the work platform 340, a user merely needsto push button 444 and lift upward on the work platform 340. As the workplatform 340 is light in weight, it will readily move upward. Moreover,in the process, the gas driven piston 432 will intake air, therebyenabling the work platform 340 to remain at the raised level, i.e., whenthe platform 340 is raised gas will be sucked into the piston 340 andwill not be readily expellable until the button 444 is depressed. Inother words, similar to the process of lowering the work platform 340,when the work platform 340 is raised it may be releaseably locked at anyposition between the lowest position and the height position byreleasing the button 444. As a result, each component of the workplatform 340 (including the bi-directional laptop platform 370 and thecompartments 530) is ergonomically available to a user when sitting orstanding.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the medical cart can include apower cord passage 327 that enables a power cord 902 of a laptopcomputer 900 (or other device) on the laptop platform 370 to beelectrically connected to an electrical receptacle 904 provided in thebase 310. The electrical receptacle 904 can be connected, for example toa wall outlet via a retractable cord 906, as later described.Preferably, the passage 327 includes an access hole 325 in the workplatform 340 and extends through the telescoping portions 322, 324. Thepassage 327 terminates in a well 960 in the base 310 where theelectrical connection can occur. This permits the point of connection tothe electrical receptacle 904 to be enclosed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the well 960 in the base 310 houses the electricalreceptacle 904, a retractable cord 906, and a hatch 908 that providesaccess to the well 960 so that power cords 387, 902 can be plugged intothe electrical receptacle 904. The retractable cord 906 can be pluggedinto an external wall outlet to recharge the battery internal to thelaptop computer 900 and/or a battery-powered solenoid 240 in the keylessentry system (later described in detail). The hatch 908 works inconjunction with a cover plate 910 to enclose the base 310 including thewell 960, thereby encapsulating the components provided in the base 310and shielding them from the environment.

The base 310, which is moveable by means of rolling members 120 (e.g.,casters), is ergonomically shaped to provide stability. The base 310 isdesigned to provide stability by having the rolling members 120 atcorners which are outside of the footprint of the work platform 340.Moreover, the rolling members 120 are spaced-apart to such a degree thattwo rolling members 123 of a medication module 100 can be locatedbetween two rolling members 121 of the base 310, thereby enabling themedical cart 500 and the medication module 100 to nest together.Further, when the medical cart 500 is nested with a medication module100, it may be releaseably connected to the medication module 100 bymeans of a second locking mechanism 190 provided on an underside of thebase 310 (shown in FIGS. 1 and 15), also as later described in detail.

Another embodiment of a medical cart 300 is shown in FIG. 16. In thisembodiment, the removable side bins 520 of the previous cart 500 havebeen removed to facilitate joining the medical cart 300 with amedication module 100. The medical cart 300, like the medical cart 500shown in FIG. 1, also includes a second locking mechanism 190 which maybe used to connect the medical cart 300 to a medication module 100. Inaddition, the cart 300 contains fewer compartments 330 which may, likethe compartments 530 of the medical cart 500 shown in FIG. 1, belockable by means of a keyless entry system or by a conventional keylock.

One embodiment of a medication module 100, which may be referred to as acart, is shown in FIGS. 17-23. As shown in FIG. 17, the medicationmodule 100 includes a component body 111 having a plurality of lockablecompartments 130 and which is supported by a base 110. The medicationmodule also may include a refuse container 140, a depression worksurface 150, a retractable power cord 144 (shown best in FIGS. 18 and21B) which can be used to recharge a battery 241 of a keyless entrysystem 600 by means of a power cord 233 (as later described in detail),a front handle 160, and a side handle 162. The two handles 160, 162 areprovided so that the medication module can be pushed by a user standingin front of the compartments 130 or in front of the sidewall 112.

The component body 111 includes two side walls 112 and a back wall 114.The walls 112, 114 support a plurality of compartments 130 which, forexample, may be in the form of drawers. Although the compartments 130are shown as having a generally uniform height, this is not required.Moreover, in some embodiments the compartments 130 may have differentheights. As a result, a plurality of short compartments 130 may bereplaced by a tall compartment 130 in the manner previously describedwith respect to the first medical cart 500 embodiment.

It is preferable to provide the user with the ability to lock thecompartments 130, of the medication module 100. To reduce the likelihoodof losing a key, to reduce the likelihood of having a key getting stuck(or worse broken) in a lock, and to eliminate the need for a separatelock for each compartment 130, the compartments may be lockable by akeyless entry system 600, as hereafter described with respect to FIGS.22 and 23.

The keyless entry system 600 includes a solenoid 240 (powered by abattery 241 which is electrically connected, by means of the power cord233, to the retractable power cord 144), a printed circuit board (“PCB”)245, a piston 222, a spring-biased hinge 210 (which has an active side211 and a stationary side 213), a keypad 238, and an actuating lever 224which is connected to the piston 222 at a connection point 231 and whichpivots around an axis of rotation defined by a pin 230.

The hinge 210 can be, for example, a hinge conventionally known as apiano hinge. In a locked orientation, the active side 211 of the hinge210 is provided in an engagement position 215 in which the active side211 is positioned to engage a notch 132 formed on a compartment 130(i.e., each compartment 130 has a similar notch 132), if a user attemptsto withdraw the compartment 130. In other words, as a result of theengagement between the active side 211 of the spring 210 and the notches132 of the compartments 130, the compartments 130 can not be readilywithdrawn out of the medication module 100.

To unlock the compartments 130, a user first enters a security codeusing buttons of the keypad 238 (to verify access to the medicationmodule 100) and may, if required, then enter an unlock code on thekeypad 238. In response, the PCB 245 sends an unlock signal to thesolenoid 240. When the unlock signal is received by the PCB 245, thesolenoid 240 withdraws the piston 222, thereby causing the end ofactuating lever 224 in contact with the active side 211 of the spring210 to swing outward on the pin 230. As a result, the actuating lever224 causes the active side 211 of the spring 210 to swing out of theengagement position 215 and into a disengagement position 217. In otherwords, the active side 211 swings toward the stationary side 213 of thespring 210 so that the two sides 211, 213 rest against each other. Whenthe sides 211, 213 of the spring 210 rest against each other, thenotches 132 of the compartments 130 will no longer be inhibited by theactive side 211 of the spring 210. As a result, the compartments 130 maybe readily removed from the medication module 100.

The compartments 130 can be relocked by pressing a “lock” button (notlabeled) on the keypad 238 or by entering a lock code on the keypad 238;in either case, the PCB 245 will send a lock signal to the solenoid 240instructing it to outwardly push the piston 222, thereby causing the endof the actuating lever 224 in contact with the active side 211 of thespring 210 to swing inward on the pin 230. As a result, the active side211 of the spring 210 will swing back into the engagement position 215by means of the spring-biased nature of the spring 210. In addition, andas a safety means, a timer may be provided in the keypad 238, PCB 245,or in the solenoid 240 which will, when a timer count is satisfied,automatically instruct the piston 222 to be outwardly pushed, therebycausing the active side 211 of the spring 210 to retract into theengagement position 215.

If a compartment 130 is removed when either a lock signal is sent to thesolenoid 240 or when a timer count is satisfied (and the active side 211of the spring 210 is provided in the engagement position 215), thecompartment 130 may be inserted into the medication module withoutentering an unlock code. Specifically, the notches 132 of thecompartments 130 have sloped faces 133 thereon which, when thecompartment 130 is pushed into the medication module 100, will abut theactive side 211 of the spring 210. By continuing to push the compartment130, the sloped face 133 will cause the active side 211 of the spring210 to collapse into the disengagement position 217, i.e., thespring-bias of the spring 210 will be overcome. After the sloped face133 passes the active side of the spring 210, the active side 211 willsnap back into the engagement position 215 (by means of thespring-bias), thereby locking the compartment 130 in the medicationmodule 100.

An additional safety (and access) measure may be provided to address asituation in which the keypad 238 fails or the battery powered solenoid240 loses power. Specifically, the compartments 130 may be unlockedmanually by a hard (back-up) lock 220, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 23. Bymeans of the hard lock 220, a key can be used to manually rotate theactuating lever 224, thereby pushing the active side 211 of the spring210 or enabling it to swing outward under the force of the spring bias.In other words, the key can be used to move the active side 211 manuallyout of the engagement position 215 or to allow the active side 211 toswing (under the spring-biased force) into the engagement position 215.

Although the keyless entry system 600 has been described with respect tothe medication module 100, the same system 600 can be applied to thecompartments 330, 530 of the medical carts 300, 500, respectively.

As a result of the ability to lock the compartments 130, 330, 530, anurse can use a medication module 100 and/or medical cart 300, 500 todeliver medication to various patients, without worrying aboutunauthorized access to the compartments 130, 330, 530 while attending toa particular patient. Moreover, as a result of the keypad 238, a nursedoes not have to worry about losing a key, except for the hard lock keywhich may be kept at a central location.

The base 110, which is supported by a plurality of rolling members 120(e.g., casters), is designed to provide stability to the frame 111,similar to the base 310 of the medical cart 300, 500. However, the base110 is also designed such that the two of the rolling members 121 on oneside of the module 100 are spaced apart farther than the two rollingmembers 123 on the other side of the module 100. As a result, when twomedication modules 100 (or a medication module 100 and a medical cart300, 500) are brought together, the closer spaced rolling members 123 ofone module 100 can fit between the farther spaced rolling members 121 ofthe other module 100 (or medical cart 300, 500), thereby enabling themodules 100 (or module 100 and medical cart 300, 500) to nest closertogether to form a train 200.

As a result of the ability to nest the bases 110 of a plurality ofconsecutive medication modules 100 in a train 200 (as later described indetail), the sidewalls 112, 112 of adjacent modules 100 can bepositioned in close proximity, thereby creating a small footprint forthe train 200. Similarly, as a result of the ability to nest the base110 of a medication module 100 and the base 310 of a medical carts 300,500, the compartments of the medication module 100 can be in closeproximity to the work platform 340 of the medical cart 300, 500, therebyproviding a user with easy access thereto.

To releaseably link the nested medication modules 100 (or a medicationmodule 100 and nested a medical cart 300, 500), the base 110 of themedication module 100 is provided with a connection mechanism 171. Theconnection mechanism 171 includes an actuator 180, a first lockingmechanism 170, and a second locking mechanism 190, as best shown inFIGS. 19 and 20. The actuator 180, which may be in the form of a footpedal, includes a pivot rod 182. When the foot pedal 180 is depressed,the pivot rod 182 is configured to rotate within rings 192 from aresting position to an active position, thereby activating the firstlocking mechanism 170.

The first locking mechanism 170 includes beams 188, cover plates 186having sloped surfaces 194, and catches 184 which comprise cavities 187.When the rod 182 of the actuator 180 rotates, it pulls the beams 188toward the center of the base 110. In turn, the beams 188 cause thecover plates 186 to rotate toward the center of the base 110. As thecover plates 186 rotate, they expose the cavities 187 in the catches184. Correspondingly, when the actuator 180 is released, the rod 182rotates back to the resting position, thereby pushing the beams 188 awayfrom the center of the base 110 and, in turn, rotating the cover plates186 to enclose the cavities 187.

When the cavities 187 are closed, they are designed to releaseablycontain posts 197 of a second locking mechanism 190 of anothermedication module 100 or of a medical cart 300, 500. In addition,although the posts 197 may be provided separately on the base 110, 310,of the medication module 100 and medical carts 300, 500, they arepreferably integrally formed by means of a crossbar 196. Regardless ofthe design of the posts 197, they enable a medication module 100 to bejoined to another medication module 100 to form a train 200, as shown inFIG. 20.

A train 200 of medication modules 100A-100C can be formed by releaseablyaligning the posts 197 of a second locking mechanism 190 of onemedication module 100A with the cover plates 186 of a first lockingmechanism 170 of an adjacent medication module 100B. By pushing themodules 100A, 100B toward each other, the posts 197 will slide along thesloped surfaces 194 of the cover plates 186, thereby causing the coverplates 186 to rotate. As the cover plates 186 rotate, the cavities 187will be exposed and the posts 197 will slide into them. After the posts197 slide into the cavities 187, the cover plates 186 will retract,thereby locking the posts 197 in the cavities. Of course, to add a thirdmedication module 100C, the posts 197 of the second medication module100B would be similarly inserted into the cavities 187 of the thirdmedication module 100C.

As the medical carts 300, 500 also include second locking mechanisms190, the medication module can be releaseably joined with the medicalcarts 300, 500. For example, as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21B, themedication module 100 can be releaseably joined with the medical cart300 shown in FIG. 16. Of course, to release the medication module 100from the medical carts 300, 500, a user (e.g., a nurse) would depressthe foot pedal actuator 180 (shown in FIG. 21A) to disengage the firstlocking mechanism 170 formed under the base 110 of the medication module100 and the second locking mechanism 190 formed under the base 310 ofthe medical cart 300, 500.

As shown in FIG. 24, a train 200 of medication modules 100 can be loadedwith medication at a central location (e.g., pharmacy) 700; the numberof medication modules 100 may depend on the number of medical carts 300,500 that a hospital has on a particular floor on which the medication isto be delivered. A pharmacy technician can then drive the train 200 to asecond location 800 at which the individual medication modules 100 canbe separated from the train 200. In addition, the medication modules 100may be joined (by means of the first connection mechanism 171 thereon)to a medical cart 300, 500 (by means of the second locking mechanism 190thereon). One or more nurses 750 can then drive the separated medicationmodules 100 (with or without a medical cart 300, 500 affixed thereto) torespective third locations (not shown) at which the nurse may administermedication (contained in the compartments 130) to a distinct pluralityof patients. When the nurse(s)'s rounds are complete, the emptymedication modules 100 can be separated from attached medical carts 300,500 (if any) and rejoined to form a train 200 of medication modules 100.The train 200 of medication modules 100 may then be returned to thecentral location 700 for refilling so that the method of medicationtransport may be repeated.

Similar to the aforementioned method, a modification may be made.Specifically, there may arise situations in which a nurse 750 does notwant to push a combined medication module 100 and medical cart 300, 500but wants to enjoy the functionality of the medical cart 300, 500. Inthese situations, the nurse 750 may unlock the compartments 130 ofmedication module 100 at the second location 800 and remove one or morecompartments 130. The removed compartments 130 could then be exchangedwith compartments 530 in the medical cart 500 or placed on the workplatform of the medical cart 300 so that the medical cart 300, 500 thencontains the medications which the nurse 750 needs to deliver.

If the compartments 130 of the medication module 100 are exchanged withthe compartments 530 of the medical cart 500, the medication modules 100containing the empty compartments 530 of the medical carts 500 may thenbe taken back to central location 700 for refilling while the originalmedication is being taken by nurses to the patients, so that the methodof medication transport can be repeated.

Although the aforementioned describes embodiments of the invention, theinvention is not so restricted. It will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that various modifications and variations can be made to thedisclosed embodiments of the present invention without departing fromthe scope or spirit of the invention. Accordingly, these othermedication modules, medical carts, height adjustment mechanisms, keylessentry systems, and methods of medication transport are fully within thescope of the claimed invention. Therefore, it should be understood thatthe apparatuses and methods described herein are illustrative only andare not limiting upon the scope of the invention, which is indicated bythe following claims.

1. A cart comprising: a work platform including a laptop platform, awork surface separate from the laptop platform, and compartments forcontaining items; a base configured to be movable in at least a rearwarddirection; and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height ofthe work platform relative to the base, wherein the base includes aportion that projects from the height adjustment mechanism in a forwarddirection that is substantially opposite to the rearward direction,wherein the work platform includes a portion that projects from theheight adjustment mechanism in the forward direction, the compartmentsare disposed in the portion of the work platform that projects from theheight adjustment mechanism in the forward direction, and thecompartments are configured to permit a user facing in the rearwarddirection to access an item within the compartments, wherein the laptopplatform can be moved in at least one of the forward and rearwarddirections, wherein the work surface can be moved in at least one of aleftward and rightward direction along an arcuate path that faces theforward direction, wherein the height adjustment mechanism is configuredto releasably lock the work platform at a plurality of heights, andwherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises: a stationary casingconnected to the base; a telescoping casing connected to the workplatform and configured to move relative to the stationary casing; atleast two drawer slides disposed between the stationary casing and thetelescoping casing; a driver configured to releasably lock thetelescoping casing relative to the stationary casing; and an actuatorfor controlling the driver.
 2. The cart of claim 1, wherein the driverincludes a piston that, in response to a user's actuation of theactuator, permits gas to flow out of the piston during lowering of theheight of the work platform, and that, in response to a user's actuationof the actuator, permits gas to flow into the piston during increasingof the height of the work platform.
 3. A cart comprising: a workplatform including a work surface and compartments for containing items;a base configured to be movable in at least a rearward direction; and aheight adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the workplatform relative to the base, wherein the base includes a portion thatprojects from the height adjustment mechanism in a forward directionthat is substantially opposite to the rearward direction, wherein thework platform includes a portion that projects from the heightadjustment mechanism in the forward direction, the compartments aredisposed in the portion of the work platform that projects from theheight adjustment mechanism in the forward direction, and thecompartments are configured to permit a user facing in the rearwarddirection to access an item within the compartments, wherein the heightadjustment mechanism is configured to releasably lock the work platformat a plurality of heights, wherein the height adjustment mechanismcomprises: a stationary casing connected to the base; a telescopingcasing connected to the work platform and configured to move relative tothe stationary casing; at least two drawer slides disposed between thestationary casing and the telescoping casing; a driver configured toreleasably lock the telescoping casing relative to the stationarycasing; and an actuator for controlling the driver, and wherein theactuator is disposed above the compartments and on the portion of thework platform that projects in the forward direction.
 4. A cartcomprising: a work platform including a work surface and at least onecompartment for containing an item within the compartment; a baseconfigured to be movable in at least a rearward direction; and a heightadjustment mechanism for adjusting the height of the work platformrelative to the base, wherein the height adjustment mechanism isconfigured to releasably lock the work platform at a plurality ofheights, the height adjustment mechanism comprising: a stationary casingconnected to the base; a telescoping casing connected to the workplatform and configured to move relative to the stationary casing; adriver configured to releasably lock the telescoping casing relative tothe stationary casing; and an actuator for controlling the driver,wherein the base includes a portion that projects from the heightadjustment mechanism in a forward direction that is substantiallyopposite to the rearward direction, wherein the work platform includes aportion that projects from the height adjustment mechanism in theforward direction, the compartment is disposed in the portion of thework platform that projects from the height adjustment mechanism in theforward direction, and the compartment is configured to permit a userfacing in the rearward direction to access an item within thecompartment, wherein the actuator is disposed above the compartment andon the portion of the work platform that projects in the forwarddirection.
 5. The cart of claim 4, further comprising a handle disposedon the work platform, wherein the actuator is disposed on the handle. 6.A cart comprising: a work platform including a laptop platform, a worksurface separate from the laptop platform, and compartments forcontaining items; a base configured to be movable in at least a rearwarddirection; and a height adjustment mechanism for adjusting the height ofthe work platform relative to the base, wherein the base includes aportion that projects from the height adjustment mechanism in a forwarddirection that is substantially opposite to the rearward direction,wherein the work platform includes a portion that projects from theheight adjustment mechanism in the forward direction, the compartmentsare disposed in the portion of the work platform that projects from theheight adjustment mechanism in the forward direction, and thecompartments are configured to permit a user facing in the rearwarddirection to access an item within the compartments, wherein the laptopplatform can be moved in at least one of the forward and rearwarddirections, wherein the work surface can be moved in at least one of aleftward and rightward direction along an arcuate path that faces theforward direction, and wherein the work surface is configured to move inthe leftward or rightward direction through a slot in a side of the workplatform.
 7. A cart comprising: a work platform including a laptopplatform, a work surface separate from the laptop platform, andcompartments for containing items; a base configured to be movable in atleast a rearward direction; and a height adjustment mechanism foradjusting the height of the work platform relative to the base, whereinthe base includes a portion that projects from the height adjustmentmechanism in a forward direction that is substantially opposite to therearward direction, wherein the work platform includes a portion thatprojects from the height adjustment mechanism in the forward direction,the compartments are disposed in the portion of the work platform thatprojects from the height adjustment mechanism in the forward direction,and the compartments are configured to permit a user facing in therearward direction to access an item within the compartments, whereinthe laptop platform can be moved in at least one of the forward andrearward directions, wherein the work surface can be moved in at leastone of a leftward and rightward direction along an arcuate path thatfaces the forward direction, and wherein the work platform includes asecondary work surface that is exposed when the laptop platform moves inthe forward or rearward direction.